It is not unusual for girls and women to be told that they can’t be autistic because they make eye contact, or that they are too ‘able’ and ‘functioning’. The training of general medical practitioners to spot and diagnose autism is still extremely limited, and for autism in women and girls it has been practically non-existent. In addition, autism has remained within the realms of psychiatry and medicine, which in turn has traditionally been dominated by male professionals. One reason is that autism research and diagnosis – like ADHD in fact – has traditionally centred predominantly around boys. If you are surprised to be reading this article, then you are not alone! While autism is traditionally seen as a male condition, women and girls are autistic too, and are being identified and diagnosed more than at any time in history. Please only read this section if you feel safe to do so. Trigger warning: This section discusses sensitive topics which could be triggering.
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